Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 29, 1995 TAG: 9508290062
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Wilson pledged to restore fairness to a nation that he said has slipped into decline since his immigrant grandparents came from Ireland at the turn of the century. He said he would keep faith with Americans who ``work hard, pay their taxes and raise their children to obey the law.''
The famous statue has long been a beacon to immigrants, but Wilson used it as a symbol of his fight against illegal immigration, saying there is a ``right way to come to America and a wrong way.''
Wilson sought to portray himself as an activist governor who gets things done while Republican rivals merely debate the issues. He criticized affirmative action programs and expansion of welfare - central themes, with crime, of his effort to tap into voter anger and fear.
Wilson accused President Clinton of blocking welfare reform and said the president has waved a ``white flag'' in the war on drugs and waffled on foreign policy.
``He can't balance our budget. He can't even secure our borders,'' he said.
The campaign has been slow to start, although he has announced his candidacy in several formats to reassure supporters that he was in the race. Throat surgery and then state budget talks this summer postponed plans for a formal kickoff.
Although polls have shown him running well behind front-runner Sen. Bob Dole even in California, and faring poorly in the field nationally, Wilson on Monday noted he has come from behind before in his long political career. Last year, he overcame a 23-point deficit to beat Kathleen Brown for governor.
``I have every confidence we will change this again,'' he said.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB